Bicycle.



No. 707,480. Patented Aug. l9, I902.

W. N. WHITELY. I

BICYCLE.

(Application filed Jan. 13, 1897.)

(No Model.)

/vi Mmaoea 1 NORRIS PETERS COpPNOYO-LITHUWASNWIJTON,D,C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM N. IVHITELY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,480, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed January 13, 1897. Serial No. 619,035. '(No model.)

To all Ll/7007M it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM N. WHI'IELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in bearings for bicycles and other vehicles; and the object of my invention is to improve the details of construction so as to create a more perfect bearing and at the same time simplify the parts and process of construction. I attain these objects by the constructions shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a longitudinal section and side elevation of the main axle-bearing. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the driving-wheel hub and bearing, and Fig. 4 is a detail of same.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In this bearing I employ an axle e and an outer hub or barrel c, one of which parts revolves while the other is stationary. When employed for the crank-hanger, the barrel is stationary and the axle revolves. When em ployed in the wheel, the axle is stationary while the barrel revolves. barrel or hub are preferably internally screwthreaded and both ends provided with extended portions which project beyond the screw-threaded portions. In one end this extended portion is formed tapered on the inside, as shown at 6 The other end has a straight portion, as shown at 6 In each endthere is secured a ball-cup e and 6 Each of these ball-cups is provided with a screw-threaded portion and an extended portion. On the ball-cup e the extended portion is formed on a taper to fit the taper e formed on the barrel of the hub. The ball-cup e is formed with a straight periphery adapted to fit snugly in the bore 6 of the barrel orhub. In assembling the parts the ball-cup e" is screwed tightly into position, the screw-threads drawing the tapered portion into said barrel so as to exactly center the same and at the same time secure it tightly against displacement. The ball-cup e is adapted to be adjusted longitudinally in the hub or barrel, and while the screw-threads perform this adjustment Both ends of this ery of the extended portion with notches e,

and in the hub or barrel there is provided a set-screw 6 which; has an extended portion 6 to fit in said notches; .It will be understood that the outer periphery of this extended portion or the ribs or ridges between the notches are fitted accurately to the bore, so that while the bearing may be moved out and in by the screw-threads it is held in positive alinement by these portions, while the threads serve the purpose only of moving the same in or out. By tightening the screw 6 into one of the notches or recesses the bearings may be held in the proper adjusted position. It is obvious that the same or substantially the same result may be had without the notches, the set-screw or other securing device being adapted to impinge against the outer smooth periphery of the extended portion of the ball-cup. The axle e is provided with cone-shaped lugs or shoulders c which are opposed to the ball-cups e a and antifriction-balls e are placed be tween said cones and cups in the usual way. When it is desirable to mount these cones or shoulders on the axle in separate pieces in the nature of sleeves which may be hardened, I preferably form the interior of thesleeve with a series of serrations and form said axle slightly larger than the serrated interior of the sleeve. The sleeve is then forced onto the axle and being of harder metal than the axle the serrations seat'themselves therein, forming corresponding grooves, as shown at the left in Fig. 4, and thus secure the parts firmly together without further means of fastening. The ends of the ball-cups e c? are preferably provided with extended engaging parts 0 of polygonal shape, to which a wrench or other device may be applied in turning the same to their proper positions of adjustment.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A barrel or hub of a vehicle-bearing, having a straight internal screw-threaded portion, and an enlarged plain tapered portion at the end, in combination with a ball-cup screwed into said screw-threaded portion, having an enlarged plain tapered end fitting the taper of said barrel or hub, for the purpose of securely connecting said ball-cup to said barrel or hub, substantially as specified.

2. In a vehicle-bearing, a barrel or hub, a shouldered axle extending through the same, ball-cups arranged adjacent to said shoulders, and balls between said cups and shoulders, each of said ball-cups being screw-threaded on a portion of the periphery and a plain extension on the remainder of the periphery, one of WILLIAM N. WHITELY.

Witnesses:

CHAS. I. WELCH, G. M. GRIDLEY. 

